Abstract
Authors discuss a silicone tube that provides structural support to vessels throughout the entire precarious suturing process. This modification of the conventional microvascular anastomosis technique may facilitate initial skill acquisition using the rat model.
Highlights
Microvascular anastomosis is a critical step in various subspecialties of reconstructive surgery
We propose a novel hybrid model for training inspired by the intraluminal tubing method, previously described by Marre and Hontanilla, who inserted a plastic tube into the chicken artery through a hole to ameliorate the difficulties in training using non-living animal models [5]
Previous stent methods for microvascular anastomosis include stents that remain intravascular for only part of the suturing procedure, along with stents that fully dissolve into the blood during the postoperative healing period
Summary
Microvascular anastomosis is a critical step in various subspecialties of reconstructive surgery. The creation of a patent anastomosis requires high technical skills and knowledge in suturing delicate, millimeter-scale vessels. Nonliving (latex glove, silicone tubing) or living (anesthetized rat) models can be utilized to simulate clinical microvascular surgery during microsurgical training programs, including our program at the Microsurgery Training and Research Laboratory of the Columbia University Irving Medical Center. We train approximately 150 surgeons a year in basic and advanced clinical microsurgery and supermicrosurgery techniques. Along with other microsurgery programs, offer individualized didactic and hands-on instruction combined with the rapid progression using low-fidelity models (surgical glove, silicone tubing) to high-fidelity models (live animals) [1]
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